Oh my God, we're moving 2000 miles!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Well, after about a year of the company we both work for getting increasingly, how shall I put this, “rinky-dink” with their finances, the inevitable happened yesterday and MrWhatsit got laid off. I guess I knew it was a possibility, but the fact that they chose to do this right now, when I am 4 months pregnant, felt like kind of a slap in the face. However, moving along –

We’d been considering a move to Ohio anyway, although we’d been planning it for next summer, after this baby comes. That way I wouldn’t have to switch medical teams in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy. (I have diabetes and am currently on an insulin pump.) Well, with this news, it makes sense for us to move more like, immediately. The job opportunities for MrWhatsit in the Columbus area are a lot better than they are out here in Seattle. Last time he was out of work it took him 10 months to find a job, and that length of time is not uncommon for out-of-work high tech employees out here. If it took him that long to find a job, we’d be out on the street. We’re having trouble paying our rent as it is.

The reason for Ohio is that I grew up there and my entire extended family lives there, so we’re going to have a lot of family support. Also the cost of living is somewhat lower, and the job availability is somewhat higher. We’re going to be living in a spare room in my mom’s house until MrWhatsit finds a job, and then we’ll move out into our own place. (I hope the “living with Mom” segment of this whole thing doesn’t last more than a couple of months. Pleasepleaseplease.)

I’m really stressed out and kind of terrified about the whole thing. I think the move to Columbus will be a good one in the end, but the timing truly sucks. I love my doctors and they’ve been taking really good care of me, and now I have to find new ones in the middle of a pregnancy. I don’t know how my health insurance is going to apply in Columbus. I work from home so I can continue to work at my job even from Ohio, and I will maintain my health insurance membership, but it’s a WA state plan, so is it even going to cover Ohio doctors? I have to call them on Monday and find out what the deal is. It’s really scary.

I also worry that MrWhatsit won’t be able to find a job even in Ohio and we’ll be stuck in my Mom’s basement for the next year.

On the up side, we’ll be surrounded by family. Out here, all we have is MrWhatsit’s mom (who, by the way, is going to be devastated when we tell her about the move – we have her only grandchild(ren)). Columbus is a pretty cool city from all reports, and I’m reasonably familiar with the area, having grown up in Zanesville. I think it’ll be good for Whatsit Jr. to be around cousins and aunts and uncles and such, too.

I’m just incredibly stressed out right now. Ugh. Has anyone else ever done anything like this? Advice, comments, inspirational stories, whatever you got, I’m listening.

2

I have no advice or similar experience to share, but you’ve got my best wishes and all the good vibes I can muster! Having family around will mean a lot and it should help reduce some of the stress. Try not to let it all make you crazy (I know - easier said than done) and look upon it as an adventure! Best of luck to you all!!

3

As I said in this thread, there were sudden lay-offs at the company I work for. I expected this two years ago, and started making plans to move to the Bellingham area. A week before the lay-offs, my best fiend and I agreed on my purchase of his house in Birch Bay. I have received the disclosures from the bank, and have signed and returned them. I have put the bank in contact with my landlords so they can get verification of the rent I’m paying. The loan officer says that approving my loan is one of the easiest decisions he’ll make, since my credit is good. We just have “wait for all of the pieces to fall into place”. The appraiser arrives at the house on Tuesday. (It was already appraised a month ago by the same bank, but they want another one.) The deal can close sometime after September 12th. Most of my stuff is already in storage in Bellingham. The rest of my stuff will be easy to move.

If I am not laid off, I can rent the house back to my fiend and continue to make payments. If I am laid off, then I can dump my apartment and move into the house and pay less on the mortgage than I pay in rent. People at work say that I’ve made a good decision to provide myself a “safety net”. (I call it an “escape hatch”.)

Timing is still an issue. My 1966 MGB is undergoing a ground-up restoration. I’d like it to be done before the hatchet falls. My friend wants to live in the house until at least January. (It would be nice to have the place to myself, but there’s plenty of room for two.) I don’t relish having to look for work. I really enjoy my job, and I know that I’ll not find anything similar in northern Washington. But I admit to being a procrastinator, and a lay-off is a good kick in the backside.

In any case, I’m emotionally prepared for the move. I’m logistically prepared for the move. I’m somewhat financially prepared for the move. But it’s still a little… what? Stressful? I don’t know. There’s definitely some anticipation about embarking on a new adventure.

Good luck in your move, and in your new life.

4

My wife and I are moving from California to Texas in a week, then from Texas to Nebraska next spring.

With a 2 month old.

Driving.

Yahoo.

5

My mom and dad drove from San Diego to Baltimore with a 2 month old. In 1954. Before there were interstates. Apparently, I cried most of the way.